After seven years of service, Land Rover is ready to retire its fourth-generation Discovery—aka the LR4—for the all-new, 2017 Land Rover Discovery, which is making its world debut at the 2016 Paris Auto Show. Land Rover has been rolling out a host of improvements to its lineup lately, and the new Disco is the latest model to reap the benefits.
Land Rover’s most family-friendly offering, the 2017 Discovery largely abandons the distinct blocky shape it has carried since its 1989 launch in an effort to bring it in line with the brand’s modern design language. The only remnant of the outgoing version’s exterior approach is a stepped roofline that allows for a large, single-piece tailgate, a panoramic glass roof, and more room to comfortably sit seven. Its new, more streamlined exterior gives the Discovery a drag coefficient of just 0.35—impressive for a vehicle of its size and overall dimensions.
Speaking of dimensions, the new Disco measures out at 195.7 inches in length (a healthy 5.5 inches longer than the outgoing LR4) with a wheelbase stretched by 1.5 inches to 115.1 inches. It’s also 0.8 inches wider and 1.6 inches lower than before. Despite its larger footprint, the 4,835-pound, fifth-generation Discovery is a whopping 800-pound lighter than its predecessor—depending on configuration—thanks in large part to its aluminum construction.
Underpinning that aluminum shell are stiff steel front and rear subframes, which serve as the attachment points for the Discovery’s double-wishbone front and multilink rear suspension. The rear setup features an integral link that Land Rover says allowed its engineers to achieve stiffer damping without sacrificing overall ride comfort.
Befitting its badge, the 2017 Discovery has also been developed to be a capable off-roader with impressive specs: an 11.14-inch ground clearance, 34-degree approach angle, 27.5-degree breakover angle, 30-degree departure angle, 19.7 inches of wheel articulation, and a 35.4-inch wading depth.
A single-speed transfer case is standard, but a two-speed version is available for those who desire a low-range gearing option. With the single-speed case, 58 percent of the output is sent to the rear wheels under normal operation, with distribution shifting as much as 62 percent front or 78 percent rear depending on the traction situation. The two-speed case splits output evenly between the front wheels and can be shifted between low- and high-range modes at speeds of up to 37 mph.
When equipped with the optional air suspension, the Discovery can be lowered by as much as 2.36 inches or raised by 2.95 inches. Egress can be made easier by the optional Auto Access Height feature, which lowers the vehicle by a total of 1.6 inches—first by 0.6 inches when the ignition is turned off or if a passenger unbuckles a seatbelt, then by another inch when a door is opened.
Additionally, the Discovery comes with a suite of driver-assist technologies for street and off-road use. The off-road oriented suite features Land Rover’s All-Terrain Progress Control, Terrain Response 2 Auto, Gradient Release Control, and hill descent control as standard (plus the obligatory traction and stability control). Available on-road safety systems include autonomous emergency braking, adaptive cruise control, park assist, blind-spot monitoring, closing vehicle sensing, lane-keep assist, auto high-beam assist, and a surround camera system.
Powertrain options consist of two versions of Land Rover’s 3.0-liter V-6, a supercharged one that drinks gas and a turbocharged one that feasts on diesel. The gasoline engine makes 340 hp and 332 lb-ft of torque and scoots the Discovery to 60 mph in a claimed 6.9 seconds; the diesel is good for 254 hp and 443 lb-ft and hits 60 mph in a more relaxed 7.7 seconds. Both are mated to a ZF-sourced, eight-speed automatic. Fuel economy estimates are not yet available, but they shouldn’t be significantly different than those of the Range Rover Sport, which uses the same powertrains. In that application, the gas engine returns 17/23 mpg city/highway, while the diesel is good for 22/29 mpg city/highway.
Five interior colors are offered on the 2017 Discovery. All models will come with the latest version of Land Rover’s InControl Touch Pro infotainment system, which features a 10.2-inch touchscreen, Wi-Fi hotspot, access via the InControl Remote mobile app, and the new Commute mode, which memorizes common routes and uses live traffic data to pick the optimal route, not unlike the popular Waze app.
One technology of interest that’s not related to off-roading is Activity Key. Actually an RFID wristband, Active Key overrides the fob when enabled, allowing the owner to lock the fob in the car while out in the water or otherwise adventuring. Land Rover says that the key is waterproof at depths of up to 98.4 feet and can withstand temperatures between minus-58 and 257 degrees.
Both second- and third-row seats are powered and can be configured from multiple locations, thanks to Land Rover’s new Intelligent Seat Fold system: via switches mounted inside the tailgate and the C-pillar, via the infotainment touchscreen, or by using the smartphone app. The second-row position can be adjusted within a 6.3-inch range, providing easy access to the third row, which Land Rover says was designed to comfortably sit 6-feet-3-inch adults.
Cargo room varies based on the seat configuration. With both rear rows folded, the Discovery offers a solid 88.3 cu-ft of space. With the second row up, that shrinks to 43.5 cubes and dwindles to a mere 9.1 with all three rows up. Supplementing the cargo space are numerous storage compartments throughout the vehicle, including a double glovebox, multiple center consoles, third-row cubby boxes, and large door pockets. Those who want the shelving functionality offered by a two-piece tailgate can opt for “Power Inner Tailgate,” which is a carpeted 11.2-inch shelf that can be folded down when the tailgate is opened. With a load rating of 661 pounds, it can easily support the weight of three adults. All Discovery models come with at least six 12-volt sockets and seven USB ports, with a further two ports added with the optional rear-seat entertainment package.
In the U.S., Land Rover will offer the 2017 Discovery in SE, HSE, and HSE Luxury trims, all of which can be had with the optional Black Design Package. Additionally, Land Rover will sell the gasoline-only First Edition model at launch. Limited to a run of just 500 vehicles, the Discovery First Edition will be available in Namib Orange, Silicon Silver, or Farallon Black, with 21-inch wheels, a blacked-out grille, and unique aluminum trim and badging as part of the package.
The 2017 Land Rover Discovery is scheduled to arrive in American dealer showrooms in the middle of 2017. Pricing will start at $50,985 for the gasoline-only SE. HSEs start at $57,945 for the gas model and $59,945 for the diesel, the HSE Luxury starts at $64,945, and the First Edition will set you back $74,945.
2017 Land Rover Discovery Specifications
| On Sale: | Summer 2017 |
| Price: | $50,985 (base) |
| Engine: |
3.0L supercharged DOHC 24-valve V-6/340-hp, 332 lb-ft 3.0L turbocharged DOHC 24-valve diesel V-6/254-hp, 443 lb-ft |
| Transmission: | 8-speed automatic |
| Layout: | 4-door, 5- or 7-passenger, front-engine, 4WD SUV |
| EPA Mileage: | 17/23 mpg city/highway (gas), 22/29 mpg city/highway (diesel)(est) |
| L x W x H: | 195.7 x 87.4 x 72.7 in |
| Wheelbase: | 115.1 in |
| Weight: | 4,835 lb |
| 0-60 MPH: | 6.9 sec (gas), 7.7 sec (diesel) |
| Top Speed: | N/A |
The post First Look: 2017 Land Rover Discovery appeared first on Automobile Magazine.
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